Toy



NOV. 2, 1948. I I NlETscH E 2,452,865

TOY

Filed Oct. 22, 1945 INVENTOR. 4 44.: .6. Mean 4:

Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY Hans E. Nietsche, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 22., I945, Serial No. 623,690

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful im-v provement in a toy of which the following. is a specification. The toy is generally of that class which is known as wind wheel embodying a handle and rotatable vanes which will be set in rotation through re-action of the wind either by being swung on the handle or being placed in the path of a draft of wind.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy of this class embodying vanes adapted to rotate on an axis on a suitable support and adjustable to various angles relatively to the support.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy having rotatable vanes rotating on an axis and adjustable to a support and having a I vision of a toy having vanes so arranged. that when rotating on their own axes and when thesupports on which the are mounted are rotating various designs may be produced from the coloring on the face of the vanes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated and it is intended that such shall be embraced within the scope of the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are draw ings in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view'of the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken at right angles to Fig. 1 showing parts in section,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line '3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a side view of another form of the invention,

8 is a fragmentary view of a further modified form of the invention.-

In the toy I use a supporting member 1 formed from a piece of wire and having the angularly turned handle-forming end 8 on which is mounted a thumb-piece 9 formed from plastic, wood, rubber or the like and having a notch 10 so that the member 9 can not rotate relatively to the angularly turned handle-forming end 8. The member 1 has its opposite end angularly turned to provide the supporting portion II on which is mounted a spacing sleeve 12. A wire I4 is coiled into the coil through which the portion ll projects so that the coil 15 is rotatably mounted on the portion I l and retained in position by the abutment ball 24. The opposite end of thecoil l5 extends outwardly to provide the supporting rod 16 which projects through a coil of wire 11 having the ends [8 and 19 projecting outwardly in opposite directions. A vaneor blade which is generally designated by the numeral 22 is provided with the layers 21 and between which the angularly turned end l6 projects and between which lie the coil 11 and its ends l8 and 19. This coil 11 serves as a means for mounting the vane or blade 22 on the wire end 16. The mounting is such however, that the blade 22 may be rotated on the axis l6 when the rotating thrust is directed against the ends 18 and IS in one direction the coil l1 being a snug fit on the wire end 16 and ordinarily preventing rotation of the vane or blade 22 on its support. I

The wire 14- projects through a wire coil 25 projecting outwardly from which are the ends 26 and 21 of the wire. The wire 21 serves as a support for the hub 29 of the vane or blade 30 which is rotatably mounted on the portion 21 and which is held against limited axial movement on the portion 21 by the balls 28 and 3| which are mounted on the portion 21. The assembly comprising vane 30, balls 28 and 3! are locked" on wire 21 by coil 10 having ends 1| and 12. The mounting is such that moving the ends 1| and 12 against the winding of the coil will relax the tension of the coil permitting its removal. Similar mounting of the coil 25 on the wire 14 is such that when the ends 26 and 21 are pressed in one direction the coil 25 may be rotated on the wire '4 this pressing is against the winding of the coil 25 so that it relaxes the tension of the coil on the member 14. When this rotating thrust which has a tendency to un-wind the coil 25: or relax the tension thereof is released the coil will securely grip the portion l4 so that further rotation can not be effected.

" lywith a sort of kaleidoscopic eifect.

Indicia 23 is on the face of the blade 22 and similar indicia or painting is portrayed on the face of the blade 36. It is preferred that these faces of the blades be vari-colored and preferably in bright colors. The construction is such that when the user holds the handle-forming portion 8 in the hand with the thumb on the thumb-piece 9 the-mernber 'Lmay be rotated with the portion, 8; asan axis the index finger and the thumb-piece engaging the portion 9 to facilitate this rotation. When the blades 22 and 30 are, at the proper angle a rotation of the member 1 with the portion 8 as an axis will effect a rotation of the coil I5. The blade 30 will also rotate on its axis so that one of the blades is rotating on an axis which is supported on a"*rotata'blesupport and the other is carried directly on the support and rotating about the axis I I. With one of the blades carried by a rotating support as shown in Fig. 1 and stationary on its own axis with the other blade carried b 'the somerotat'able support and rotating on its axis a pattern is de- =velopedas the speed of rotation of the two blades varies. This pattern will of course change depending upon the speed of rotation. Many patterns will develop and they change instantaneous- The formation of these Various patterns renders the toy quite interesting to a child and even to adults.

jBy-rotating the'blade 22 on the wire it the speed of rotation of the coil about the wire H maybe varied and the direction of rotation may *b'e varied. This also makes it possible to vary the pattern which may beiormed. 'By rotating the coil25 on the wire M or the blade 22 on the ;wii'e I 6, the direction of rotation 'of the coil 15 maybe varied and the speed ofrota'tion may be This variacourse vary the pattern which is developed by the 'rbtating'blacles' and adds considerable to-the {desirability of the toy. '7 7 m ne. 4, I have shown a'sli'ghtly different form brcdnstrueneri which thefsup porting member '"32 corresponds to the supporting member 1 of Fig.1 This: member 32' is preferably made'rrom wire or other light material and has the angularly turned handle forrningend 33 on which a coil 34 is mounted as a-thur'nb piece, the" end 35 of the coil"being"locked around the member 32. The "wire'memb'er' 32 also has 'the angularly turned en'd" 3Bwhich projects through the wire coil 43 so"that the coil 43 is rotatably mounted 'on the portion 36 and abuts at its ends with the members 5l"and 52;Theend 42 of this "wire coil has" the ang'uiarly turned end 31 on which is mounted the hub 39 of a'blad'or vane 46? Abutment members "38*and4l are mounted onthe'wire" portion'31.

- Theoppos'ite end of the coil ha's'the outwardly projecting portion44'which is an'gularly turned to provide the axle-forming portion 45 on which is mounted rotatably the vane orblade '48 held in position by" the abutment members 45 and 49 of suitable material suchas paste; paint T01 the like which will un-balance the-blade '48 transversely and permits oneybladeitozremainstationary on its axis as the other blade increases its speed of rotation, the unbalanced blade 48 cramping on the wire portion 45. This cramping of the blade hub on the wire in response to the tilting pressure exerted by the member 59 will cause a frictional engagement against the member sufiicient to prevent the movement of the blade 48 until a rotation of the coil 43 reaches a pre-determined speed whereupon the blade 48 will, in response to centrifugal force operating upon it straighten out and thus begin to rotate. In the meantime however the blade Ml which does not carry the weight will be rotating at a higher speed. After the blade 48 begins to rotate however its speed will surpass the speed of the blade 40 and when the device is permitted to come to rest the blade 48 will continue to rotate after the blade 4llhas come to rest.

The faces of the blades 45.? and lil are suitably colored with various designs and preferably in bright colors so that the pattern forming referred 'to will be obtained by the form shown in Fig. 4.

When rotating the member On, the handleforming portion 33 as an axis the supporting arms 42 and 44 will rotate on the part 35 as an axis and the blades 4% and 68 will rotate on their own axis. It will be noted that the arms t2 and :4 are oppositely inclined so that the abutment members 4| and 45 are in alignment with each other,

this alignment being a horizontal alignment when the member 32 is in a horizontal position. This is to provide the necessary balance so that a free and easy rotation of the coil 43 will be efiected.

It is desired that the wire from which the coil 43 is made shall be real thin so that the parts 3'? and 45 may be bent to extend at different angles to the arms 42 and 44 in this way the adjustment possible in the structure shown in Fig. 1 may also be effected by bending or slightly tilting the parts 31 and 45 relatively to the supporting arms from which they project. This makes it possible to vary the speed of rotation, the direction of rotation and consequently, the pattern which is formed.

7 mounted on the portion it.

\ l'nFig. 7 I have shown a further modified form of construction in which the supporting member 15 corresponds to the supporting member 3 or 32 of Fig. .1 or 4. This member "i5 is preferably made from wire or other light material and has an an gularly turned end which projects through a wire coil l1 so that the coil ll is rotatabiy The ends it and E9 of the coil 71 extend outwardly in opposite directions and are inclined so that the tips or ends 18 and '19 are in alignment. Frictionally secured on end l 9 is coil having axle forming portion 8! extending coaxially with end '55. A blade or vane 82 is rotatably mounted on axle forming portion BI and secured thereon by balls 33 and 5 5. Similarly a coil 85 is frictionally held on end '48 having an axle forming portion 85 extending co-axially withend Hi and mounted rotatably thereon is a vane or blade 81. The vane or blade 81 is held by balls 88 and 89A on axle forming portion 85. Each of the coils 8i and 85 are formed with extending arms 89 to permit pressing the arm 39 against the direction of winding of the coil to relax the tension of the coil on a respective end to permitiadjusting the vane or blade on the arm or permit its removal.

' In Fig. 8, I have shown a slightly different form of construction from that shown in Fig. 1. The arm ISA, as arm is in Fig. 1, extends from coil |5A and is provided with bent portion iii-adjacent its end. The portion 92 is bent so as to extend angularly across the width of vane or blade 22A to provide rigidity to the vane or blade 22A.

When the handle forming portion, such as the part 8, in Fig. l, is held in the hand, the member I may be caused to rotate with the part 8 as an axis by a pressure of the thumb and index finger on the thumb piece I0, the thumb rolling off of the piece I 0, and then returned to repeat this action. This may be used to continue the rotation or it may be resorted to to initiate the rotation which may then be continued by a slight swinging movement of the hand which is holding the part 8. A toy constructed in this manner has proven most efficient and highly attractive and entertaining to children. The various adjusting features are such as to make it possible to add novelty to the toy from time to time because of the variation in pattern formations which are accomplished by the adjustments.

What I claim as new is:

1. A toy or the class described comprising a supporting member; an angularly turned handle forming end on said member; a thumb-piece on said angularly turned end engaging the end of said member and non-rotatable relatively to said angularly turned end; an angularly turned portion on the opposite end of said member; a blade supporting member rotatably mounted on said second mentioned angularly turned end; and a plurality of rotatable blades carried by said blade supporting member.

2. .A toy of the class described comprising a supporting member formed from wire and having an angularly turned handle-forming portion at one end; a thumb-piece on said angularly turned portion and engaging the member and non-rotatable on said angularly turned portion; an angularly turned portion at the opposite end of said member extending in a plane substantially at right angles to the direction of turning of the opposite end; a supporting member rotatably mounted on said second mentioned angularly turned end; supporting arms projecting outwardly from said second mentioned supporting member; a blade mounted on each of said arms; and means for mounting the blade on the arm for rotation about the arm and for retaining the blade in fixed relation to the arm.

3. In a toy of the class described, a supporting member formed from wire; an angularly turned portion on one end of said member; a tubular member rotatably mounted on said angularly turned end; a supporting arm projecting outwardly from said tubular member and movable in unison therewith; a blade; and a coil spring connected to said blade and mounted on said arm and normally in fixed relation thereto and adapted upon releasing pressure exerted thereon for rotating thereabout and for being moved lon gitudinally thereof.

4. In a toy of the class described a wire supporting member; an angularly turned end portion on said member; a wire coil rotatably mounted on said end portion; an outwardly projecting arm at one end of said coil and inclined longitudinally thereof and having its end angularly turned to extend parallel to the axis of said coil; an outwardly projecting arm on the opposite end of said coil and inclined relatively thereto in the direction opposite to the inclination of said first mentioned arm; an angularly turned portion on said second mentioned arm extending parallel to the axis of said coil; and a rotatable blade mounted on the angularly turned portion of each of said arms, said blades lying in the same plane.

5'. In a toy of the class described a wire supporting member; an angularly turned end portion on said member; a wire coil rotatably mounted on said end portion; an outwardly projecting arm at one end of said coil and inclined longitudinally thereof and having its end angularly turned to extend parallel to the axis of said coil; an outwardly projecting arm on the opposite end of said coil and inclined relatively thereto in the direction opposite to the inclination of said first mentioned arm; an angularly turned portion on said second mentioned arm extending parallel to the axis of said coil; and a rotatable blade mounted on the angularly turned portion of each of said arms, said blades lying in the same plane, the angularly turned portions of said arms being bendable to extend at difierent inclinations relatively to said arms.

6. A toy of the class described comprising a supporting member; an angularly turned handleforrning end on said member; a thumb-piece on said angularly turned end engaging the end of said member and non-rotatable relatively to said angularly turned end; an angularly turned portion on the opposite end of said member; a blade supporting member rotatably mounted on said second mentioned angularly turned end; a plurality of rotatable blades carried by said blade supporting member and one of said blades provided with weights along one edge thereof to vary the relative speed of rotation of said blades.

7. In a toy of the class described a wire supporting member; an angularly turned end portion on said member; a Wire coil rotatably mounted on said end portion; an outwardly projecting arm at one end of said coil and inclined longitudinally thereof; an outwardly projecting arm on the opposite end of said coil and inclined relatively thereto in the direction opposite to the inclination of said first mentioned arm, each of said outwardly projecting arms embraced by a respective wire coil, each of said wire coils being movable longitudinally thereof upon the release of the tension of the same and rotatable thereabout, each of said wire coils having an end portion projecting outwardly to provide axles; and vanes rotatably mounted on said axles.

- HANS E. NIETSCHE.

No references cited. 

